Almost every Caribbean Community (Caricom) leader is headed to New York this week for annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings. Almost everyone will have a series of sideline meetings with U.S. and other world leaders, but the focus of those from the Caribbean is likely to involve some weighty, controversial issues.<\/p>\n
In the past year, the Trump administration has been leaning heavily on the grouping of mostly small island nations to accept dozens of illegal immigrants under the so-called third country nationals scheme, despite massive security concerns from governments about being forced to host \u201cstrangers\u201d with backgrounds that are not that easy to trace. Therefore, many are planning to use the opportunity of the UNGA to discuss the deportee issue with the administration officials; those from the State Department especially.<\/p>\n
For example, talks between Antigua and the administration have stalled to such an extent that cabinet officials there are more than convinced that the federation with Barbuda is being severely punished for refusing to accept 12 non-national deportees each month from the U.S. because of security and other concerns. Authorities say this number is way too much for a country with a population of just about 100,000. The result, said Prime Minister Gaston Browne, is that not a single Antiguan was awarded a tourist visa this year and those applying must fork out a mandatory deposit bond of up to $20,000 in case they don\u2019t return on time or at all. <\/p>\n
Locals in neighboring Dominica have been subjected to similar punishment, although officials there have stayed away from commenting publicly on this aspect.<\/p>\n
At the weekend, Sir Ronald Sanders, the federation\u2019s ambassador to Washington, announced plans for a resumption of formal talks with the U.S., but it is not clear whether the U.N. sessions will serve as a venue for a resumption. Sanders said that sovereign rights remain a cornerstone of Antigua\u2019s approach to the talks, while negotiating in a spirit of cooperation and the federation\u2019s national interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Caribbean already accepts the return of its own nationals from the United States. That is one thing. The organized reception of deportees who are not its nationals is quite another, and it cannot become a standing expectation unless arrangements are devised that do not impose unbearable weight on small countries that are already overburdened,\u201d Sander said. \u201cThe purpose of the resumed discussions is to determine whether terms can be agreed that are consistent with the parliamentary framework, Antigua and Barbuda\u2019s laws and international obligations, and the national interest.\u201d <\/p>\n
As an indication of the level of pressure some nations are experiencing with the non-national issue, St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre made it clear to reporters in the past week that his nation is too small and geopolitically weak to resist any pressure from its superpower neighbor to the north, as it accepted its first batch of six such persons earlier this month, while Dominica also received six. Guyana has picked up a similar number, but authorities said they are happy with the arrangements because the country\u2019s oil and gas boom has resulted in a massive labor shortage. The other member state with non-nationals is Belize. Others, like Grenada, say they are at advanced stages of negotiations on the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cSaying no was not a realistic option. If you\u2019re a prime minister of a country, you\u2019ll tell the United States \u2018no\u2019? This was one of the most difficult decisions,\u201d Pierre stated, noting that it was nevertheless \u201cthe best deal under the circumstances.\u201d He spoke on local Radio FM. The island is slated to accept up to 10 deportees every three months.<\/p>\n
Pierre appealed for understanding of the situation, even suggesting that it is possible that St. Lucians in the U.S. might also in the future find themselves on a plane to a third country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has happened to these people will happen to St. Lucians in the U.S., you know. There are going to be St. Lucians who are going to be sent somewhere else. We never know.\u201d He warned locals that they should never overstay a visa because doing so brings problems. \u201cWhen you get a visa to go to anybody\u2019s country, do not overstay.\u201d<\/p>\n
As leaders and foreign ministers flew into New York, the Jamaican government also announced that it had finalized its operating agreement with the U.S. and will accept 25 such persons every two weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter internal consultations and thoughtful negotiations, both governments have now finalized operating procedures related to the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] to settle the guardrails and parameters underpinning the agreement,\u201d Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told reporters. \u201cThe arrangements were also finalized, taking into account Jamaica\u2019s capacity constraints and our belief in the principles of safe, orderly, and lawful migration. We have also not agreed to receive 10,000 individuals. We have negotiated guardrails to address capacity constraints and have, therefore, agreed to a maximum of 25 individuals per two-week period, which the International Organization for Migration will, of course, be on a continuous basis making arrangements for their return,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
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